GABONESE REPUBLIC

Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.

  • Population:
    – total: 1,197,000
    – under-18s: 545,000
  • Government armed forces:
    – active: 4,700
    – paramilitary: 2,000
  • Compulsory recruitment age: 18
  • Voluntary recruitment age: 18
  • Voting age (government elections): 21
  • Numbers of under-18s: none indicated
  • CRC-OP-CAC: signed 8 September 2000 supports "straight-18" position
  • Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ICC
  • There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Article 1 (21) of the Constitution of Gabon states that each citizen has the duty to defend the country, to protect and respect the Constitution, laws and regulations of Gabon. Article 1 (22) stipulates that the defence of the nation and public order are assured essentially by the defence forces and national security. In times of peace, the armed forces are to participate in the economic and social development of the nation.734

Compulsory military service is regulated by Law-Decree No. 4 of 6 December 1960 which established the national armed forces. However, according to the UN it is not clear if conscription is enforced.735

Until recently the minimum age for recruitment was believed to be 20.736 But in March 2001 Gabon's Ministry of Defence launched a recruitment drive with the aim of enlisting, over a five-year period, 1,500 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25. The recruitment is part of recent measures to curb violence and insecurity and enables Gabon to contribute troops to peacekeeping missions.737

In addition to its national force Gabon is also supported by approximately 680 French troops.

Military Training and Military Schools

There is at least one military school in Gabon; the Projet d'Ecole d'Etat Major in Libreville. Another military school is being developed in Abidjan. Information on the entrance requirements is not available.738

DEVELOPMENTS

International Standards

Gabon signed the CRC-OP-CAC on 8 September 2000 and supports the "straight-18" principle.

734 Original text in French at: http://194.206.43.70/recueil/constitution/constitution.html.

735 Report of the Secretary-General, UN doc. no E/CN.4/2000/55 op. cit.

736 CIA World Factbook: Gabon.

737 IRIN-West Africa, Weekly Roundup 62, "Gabon: army recruitment drive", 9 March 2001.

738 "La cooperation militaire francaise en afrique", French Ministry of Defence website at http://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/dossier/d20/3_3.htm.

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